Glide swing

ABSTRACT

A glide swing is suspended from an overhead supporting structure or from its own supporting frame. It is mounted to provide a modified swinging and gliding ride to one or more persons riding below, depending on the number participating and/or the seating accommodations offered in a respective embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the tops of upstanding seat hangers are secured above respectively in pairs, to one of two parallel and spaced rotatable shafts secured to the supporting structure for oscillating movements of themselves and the tops of the seat hangers whereas, the bottoms of these same upstanding seat hangers are secured below to seat supports for pivotal movements in a direction other than the direction of the oscillating movements. Each of these potential movements is modified to create the controlled glide swing motion. The modification is undertaken by providing an interplay structure located between the seats and respectively rotatably mounted to each seat. Because of this rotatable mounting of the seats during glide swing motions each seat slightly and controllably banks or tips to maintain the rider in a comfortable action position with respect to the arcuate motions and related forces of the glide swing. Yet at all times the glide swing remains under the control of the riders who can always ride safely.

United States Patent [1 1 McGuire [111' 3,825,254 [451 July 23, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 199,934

[52] US. Cl. 272/85, 272/87 [51] Int. Cl A63g 9/00 [58] Field of Search 272/85, 87, 88, 89, 92;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1925 Lydecker 272/85 10/1962 McGuire 272/85 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ray E. Mattern, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A glide swing is suspended from an overhead supporting structure or from its own supporting frame. It is mounted to provide a modified swinging and gliding ride to one or more persons riding below, depending on the number participating and/or the seating accommodations offered in a respectiveembodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the tops of upstanding seat hangers are secured above respectively in pairs, to one of two parallel and spaced rotatable shafts secured to the supporting structure for oscillating movements of themselves and the tops of the seat hangers whereas, the bottoms of these same upstanding seat hangers are securedbelow to seat supports for pivotal movements in a direction other than the direction of the oscillating movements. Each of these potential movements is modified tocreate the controlled glide swing motion. The modification is undertaken by providing an interplay structure located between the seats and respectively rotatably mounted to each seat. Because of this rotatable mounting of the seats during glide swing motions each seat slightly and controllably banks or tips to maintain the rider in a comfortable action position with respect to the arcuate motions and related forces of the glide swing. Yet at all times the glide swing remains under the control of the riders who can always ride safely. 2

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUL23|974 SHEET 2 0F 7 PATENTEDJUL23IST4 SHEET 3 OF 7 PATENTEnamzsmm 3325.254

sum nor 7 PATENTEBJUL23I974 3,825,254

SHEET 6 OF 7 FIG? PATENTEB JUL23I974 SHEET 7 BF 7 CROSS REFERENCE The swing described in US. Pat. No. 3,058,744 is an earlier playground device invented by the Applicant, Martin J. McGuire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This glide swing playground equipment in one embodiment accommodates one, two, three or four children in the age group from three to eight years. It may be mounted from its own frame, a ceiling, or some other overhead structure. It may also be provided with an upper quick disconnect means for portability between indoor and outdoor mounting during respective winter and summer seasons. In an expanded, stronger embodiment of the samebasic construction, design and operation, this glide swing may accommodate eight to twelve children and/or adults, and be utilized in park and school playgrounds. Also in a smaller one person version embodying the same design principles having one seat inside the group of suspended upstanding hangers, one person is provided with an exercise means for his or her body conditioning. The movements of all embodiments are optionally selected by the riders in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions, and changeovers in these directions are conveniently undertaken.

In whatever embodiment the glide swing is furnished, the objective is to provide an exciting, invigorating, ride which at all times remains within safe limits of motions, in comparison to swings and merry-go-round and other playground and home yard facilities which, if operated excessively, may result in injury to a rider or a nearby observer.

DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the glide swing are illus trated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective, the glide swing for four persons suspended from its own supporting frame;

FIG. 2 shows in perspective, with portions broken away, the overhead or upper support and control receiving subassembly, inclusive of mechanical motion limits which prevent rider impacts against the supporting frame;

FIG. 3 shows in perspective, with portions cut away and/or spaced away, the lower riding and/or seating subassembly, inclusive of the interplay structure having the center, dual axis joint for rotatable axle receiving seat supports as indicated by the motion arrows;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section, with portions removed, of the center dual axis joint of the interplay structure;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section, with portions removed, showing the lower hanger attachment structure at the seat level indicating the joining together of the components by using a shoulder bolt and nut fastener, a similar arrangement being used as an upper hanger attachment;

FIG. 6 shows the lower riding and/or seating subassembly and portions of the hangers at rest, and, in dotted lines, in motion at a canted position, to illustrate the continuous perpendicularity of a seat with the supporting hangers resulting in the banking, or pivoting of the seat relative to the ground as indicated by banking angle A;

FIG. 7 shows, in perspective, with portions cut away and/or spaced away, the parts of the glide swing to accommodate more than four persons; and

FIG. 8 shows, in perspective, with portions cut away and/or spaced away, the parts of another embodiment of the glide swing for one person, having a single seat located inside a group of hangers, which taper in and are suspended at three locations.

DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Glide Swing for Four Children The preferred embodiment of the Glide Swing which is particularly suitable for use by children in the home backyard or in the kingergarten yard is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. It may have its own support frame or it may be suspended from an existing overhead structure.

Support Frame for Glide Swing Referring to FIG. 1, the glide swings own support frame 48 consistsof a top beam 43, legs 44, cross ties 45, braces 46 and protective end caps 41 arranged in a general quadrangular shape. If other support frames are used, or any overhead suspension point is used, which .will allow operational clearance for the suspended assembly in motion, the overhead connection will be made using saddle 35.

An Overhead Receiving Subassembly In FIG. 1 this saddle 35 is joined to beam 43 by bolt fastener assemblies 39, and it serves as a connector for the balance of suspended swing assembly 'to the support frame 48. Referring to upper assembly of glide swing components as shown in FIGSJI and 2, rocker bars 31 and 32 are mounted through the four bearing surfaced circular holes of saddle 35. The rocker bars 31 and 32 are mutually parallel and both are perpendicular to a reference vertical plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of beam 43. Mechanical spacer-limiters 33 with striker tabs-B, at each end are concentrically secured to the center portion of rocker bars 31 and 32 by bolts 27. Rotation of rocker bars 31 and 32 is therefore limited in either direction upon impact of striker tabs B against tabs C of saddle 35. Thrust washers 36 serve as antiwear devices between the spacer-limiters 33 and the saddle 35.

A Hanging Subassembly Extending downward from the attachment points of rocker bars 3l and 32, are four pairs of hangers 16 and 17, 18 and 19, 20 and 21, and 22 and 23. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, each pair of hangers is attached respectively to one of the axles 12, 14, 11 or 13.

A Riding Subassembly These axles are held in position by retainer rings 26 and brackets 25 secured in turn by fasteners 29 in the assembly of seats as particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This assembly is referred to as the lower interplay structural assembly. Each hanger at the bottom is formed as a foot rest 42. Theattachment of pairs of hangers is accomplished with pivotal hinge providing structures, as shown in FIG. 5. To serve as a pivotal pin or a rocker bar, a shoulder bolt 28 is used to join each pair of hangers together at their lower and also at their upper attachment points. Clearance, so the parts will oscillate freely about the hinge axis is provided by installing nylon bushings 40. These nylon bushings 40 are inserted into these respective seat axles using an oblong hole and an oblong inserted portion, assembled to prevent rotation of these bushings 40.

Taper or Inclination of Hangers and the Banking Angle In their installed configuration, all four pairs of hangers are not parallel to a vertical direction. Instead, they taper together from the riding or seat subassembly towards the overhead receiving subassembly. This may be understood also by creating a mutually perpendicular axis for both theseat or riding subassembly and the selected respective axles l 1 and 13, and then observing that the distances between the hinge axis at the lower attach points of hangers and 21 and the hinge axis of the lower attach points of hangers 22 and 23, are both approximately one and one third times greater than the distances between the hinge axis at the upper attach points of hangers 20 and 21 and the hinge axis at the upper attach points of hangers 22 and 23. This resulting tapering of the total group of hangers establishes the amount of any slanting from the horizontal occurring during rides. Angle A, in FIG. 6, indicates the angularity the seat assembly will assume for any off vertical motion position of the glide swing assembly. This angle A increases as the swing assembly moves outwardly from its vertical or rest position as the riders move to higher altitudes during greater tangential velocities of the seat assembly. The angle A will also vary throughout a revolution of the seat assembly, if the path is elliptical or other than circular. The angle A, considered as a banking angle, is similar to the banking angle or slant of a curve on an auto speedway.

Glide Swing for Eight or More Persons The glide swing motions obtained upon moving the embodiment of FIG. 1, may be also obtained in other embodiments. In FIG. 7, some components of another overall glide swing are illustrated. The other components not shown in FIG. 1 are like those illustrated in FIG. 1, except for possibly being made stronger to withstand greater loads. Eight or more persons may ride at the same time. Two adults and two or more children may be seated on seat 54 which is one of the total of four double seats 54 serving as the riding subassembly.

Each heavier single tube-hanger 52 is secured above with straps 72 positioned on either side of a rocker bar 71 and secured by a'conventional fastener, not shown. Rocker bar 71 is one of four which are all parallel and rotatably secured above to an overhead receiving subassembly having suspension supports, not shown, which would be similar to those used with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. At its lower end, each hanger 52 of the hanging subassembly is secured to seat axle 68 using adapter face plates 69 and a fastener 59 serving also as a pivotal axis.

Permanently secured to the lower end of hanger 52 are tube frames 53, providing above hand gripping places and below foot rests for the riders carried on seats 54. Each seat 54 is well secured to a respective seat axle 68 outwardly of the hanger 52. lnwardly of hanger 52, axle 68 is rotatably retained in place by using top and bottom brackets 55, 55, and retainer ring 70 as the brackets are secured together by fasteners, like fasteners 29 shown in FIG. 4. v

This riding subassembly having controlled rotatable mounting of axles 68 to which seats 54 are secured, in conjunction with the other related connections provides the riders with a choice of interesting glide swing motions, inclusive of straight, elliptical, and/or circular motions as they have fun together in operating and riding the glideswing.

.Glide Swing for One Person Although the glide swing in the other embodiments is to be used by more than one rider, it may be modified to serve as an exercising or fun riding unit for just one person, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Instead of four hangers, there are three in the hanging subassembly. One front hanger is made of two parallel bars or tubes 67 and the other two side hangers are made of heavier tubes or pipes 66, .73. They are supported above on rocker bars 61, 62, and 63. The rocker bars are spaced apart, parallel to each other, and mounted for rotation in an overhead receiving subassembly having bearing structures, not shown, but which. are similar in purpose to those shown in FIG. 2.

Below, these three hanger units are pivotally secured with fasteners 76 and, as needed with straps 77, to axles 65.and or the riding subassembly. These axles are rotatablyheld in position by retainer rings 64 and by identical top and bottom brackets 58 secured with fasteners like fasteners 29 shown in FIG. 4. While securing the brackets 58 together, seat 57 is also secured by the same fasteners at a location just above the brackets at a height determined by spacrs 74.

A rider positioned on seat 57, places his feet on foot rests 78 and hand grips handlebars 60. Upon changing his body position he is able to enjoy a variety of riding motions along straight, elliptical and/or circular paths, while he exercises and has fun.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES Throughtout the embodiments of the glide swing, all

the motions may be ultimately and-restrictively controlled so any serious injuries will not occur. Persons of all ages may enjoy various rides, extending themselves by their muscular efforts in changing their body positions to create the various motions through space.

Throughout the embodiments many components are interchangeable reducing production and servicing costs. Also they are designed for meeting strength and safety requirements.

I claim: 1. A glide swing for riders to create various interesting motions all of which are ultimately controlled so no serious injuries will occur to the riders, comprising:

a. an overhead receiving subassembly adaptable for securement to a supporting structure; b. parallelaxles rotatably mounted in the overhead receiving subassembly; c. upright hangers pivotally secured at their top portions to the respective parallel axles;

end) intermediate its ends the upright hangers at their bottom portions are secured; and e. seats are also secured to (the other ends of) each of the plurality of elongated extension structures. 

1. A glide swing for riders to create various interesting motions all of which are ultimately controlled so no serious injuries will occur to the riders, comprising: a. an overhead receiving subassembly adaptable for securement to a supporting structure; b. parallel axles rotatably mounted in the overhead receiving subassembly; c. upright hangers pivotally secured at their top portions to the respective parallel axles; d. a lower interplay structural assembly having a central receiving structure and extension structures, each of the latter being rotatably secured respectively at one end within the central receiving structure, and to each extension structure (at its other end) intermediate its ends the upright hangers at their bottom portions are secured; and e. seats are also secured to (the other ends of) each of the plurality of elongated extension structures. 